The Power of Visualisation
When it comes to success and well-being, the transformative practice of visualisation stands out as a powerful tool of empowerment that every professional can use for exceptional results.
It can not only help you reach financial and career goals, but it can also help you reduce stress, feel happier and more confident and successful. Not surprisingly, top professionals across industries from sports to business to healthcare use it. Studies have shown that novice surgeons who received imagery training demonstrated reduced self-reported stress and decreased objective stress. The same goes for police officers and entrepreneurs. One study conducted by TD Bank, highlightd this effect for entrepreneurs. “The survey results show that business owners who take the time to visualize their company are more successful and more likely to reach their goals than those who don’t,” Jay DesMarteau, Head of small businesses banking at TB Bank, explained.
In short, visualisation works for all groups of people and in all kinds of situations: it can help you to achieve your goals, to imagine your future as you would like it to be, to deal with stress and much more.
In Melody Beattie’s book Journey to the Heart, she explains the importance of taking the time to develop a vision, “As above, so below. First it happens in spirit. Then it manifests in the physical. Not the other way around. First we see a vision. Our soul tells us through the words and eyes of our heart. The the steps become clear and we see the order in which they should be taken. Then it is finished. By the time the vision has arrived, it is already, as some say, a done deal. You waste so much time and effort when you try to accomplish something, before you have envisioned it. Learn to let the vision come first. Take time to shape it in spirit before you try to shape it in physical form. If you can’t see something clearly, the vision may not be complete. Take the time you need to think about it, to let it come into focus, to let the vision take shape in your mind. Operating from vision will guide us onto our highest path. It will also make our life and work much easier.”
An important caveat, some people aren’t visual and find visualisation difficult. If you are one of those, don’t worry! Instead of visualising, you can write, also known as scripting, about the desired goal or state as if it’s happened and practice feeling into the feelings of what it would feel like in your desired state. There are many successful people who struggle to visualise and used other methods so don’t let that stop you. The goal is to connect with the senses that work for you to practice living in the desired state of your future self. The more you can live from this end state, the better.
Let's delve into the profound impact of visualisation and draw inspiration from the stories of renowned athletes, actors, and business leaders who have harnessed this mental tool to elevate their success, financial goals and well-being.
The Art of Visualization: A Catalyst for Success and Well-being
1. Setting the Stage for Success:
Visualisation is more than a mental exercise; it's a dynamic process that engages our senses and emotions to create a vivid mental picture of success. By envisioning goals, positive outcomes, and personal growth, individuals set the stage for their success in the workplace and beyond. As any sports psychologist or manifesting coach will tell you, it’s also important to support all visualisations with the feelings of how it would feel once you’ve achieved the goal or desired state. For instance, maybe you have a presentation next week that you want to go well. Take the time to visualise every detail of it going how you’d ideally like it to go and at the same time feel into how it would feel while you’re speaking and once it’s done and it’s gone well. You might want to feel excited and happy while you’re speaking and then happy, relieved, grateful, excited for the opportunity and proud of yourself once it’s done. Feel into all of those feelings while you’re visualising it happening.
2. Neuroplasticity in Action:
At the heart of visualisation lies the science of neuroplasticity. When we vividly imagine success and ourselves experiencing the desired emotions, our brain undergoes changes similar to those experienced during actual experiences. This not only enhances our confidence but also rewires our neural pathways to align with our envisioned success.
3. Stress Reduction and Mental Resilience:
The power of visualisation extends to stress reduction and mental resilience. By mentally rehearsing challenging situations and visualizing successful outcomes, individuals can cultivate a sense of calm and readiness in the face of workplace pressures. When we do this, we’re also essentially rehearsing and practicing feeling good no matter what.
Inspiring Stories from Icons:
1. Michael Phelps - Visualization in the Pool:
The most decorated Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps, credits visualisation as a key component of his success. Phelps would visualize every detail of his races, from the dive to the finish, creating a mental blueprint for success. This practice contributed to his remarkable achievements in the pool.
“I would visualize the best- and worst-case scenarios. Whether I get disqualified or my goggles fill up with water or I lose my goggles or I come in last, I'm ready for anything.”
- Michael Phelps
2. Oprah Winfrey - Vision Boards for Manifestation:
Media mogul Oprah Winfrey is a staunch advocate of vision boards. She famously created a vision board depicting her goals, and as her career soared, she attributed a significant part of her success to the power of visualization and manifestation.
“Anything you can imagine, you can create.”
Oprah Winfrey
3. Jim Carrey - A Check for the Future:
Before he became a household name, actor Jim Carrey wrote himself a check for $10 million, dated it five years in the future, and went daily to the Hollywood Hils and visualised himself as a famous sought after actor receiving that sum for his acting services. Remarkably, he secured a movie role that earned him precisely that amount within the specified timeframe.
“I would visualize things coming to me. It would just make me feel better. Visualization works if you work hard. That’s the thing. You can’t just visualize and go eat a sandwich.”
Jim Carrey
4. Richard Branson - Picturing Success:
Entrepreneur Richard Branson attributes part of his success to visualisation. In his book "The Virgin Way," Branson emphasizes the importance of creating mental images of success, stating that if you can visualize it, you can make it happen.
5. Arnold Schwarzenegger -
In a three part doc series on Netflix, Arnold Schwarzenegger, described how positive visualization throughout his life helped propel his careers in bodybuilding, acting, and politics.
“I saw myself on the stage [with] thousands of people screaming, ‘Ahhnold, Ahhnold, Ahhnold. And when you visualize something very clearly, you believe that you 100 percent can get there.”
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Incorporating Visualization for Success at Work:
1. Guided Visualization Sessions:
Integrate guided visualization sessions into workplace wellness programs. At Wondersource, the guided visualisation sessions that we’ve run with companies have been incredibly powerful. Helping employees with everything from reducing pressure and stress to enhancing confidence and achieving goals.
Provide resources for employees to visualize stress reduction, goal achievement, and overall well-being. This can be through live virtual classes like what we offer at Wondersource or well-being apps that specialise in guided visualisation.
2. Vision Board Workshops:
Host vision board workshops where teams can collectively visualize shared goals. “You would be surprised how many high-powered executives secretly have action or vision boards at home or saved on their computers,” neuroscientist, medical doctor and executive coach Tara Swart tells CNBC.
Display these vision boards in communal spaces to inspire a culture of shared success. While it might feel silly at first, having shared goals that are visible to the whole team can be incredibly powerful.
3. Mindful Moments in Meetings:
Begin meetings with a brief mindful visualization to set a positive tone. Suggest that everyone takes a minute to sit comfortably in their chair, to breathe deeply into their diaphragm and breathe out slowly so they are present in the room and their bodies and then offer time for teammates to visualise everything from how they want the rest of the quarter to go to the impact they want to have with their work. Encourage teams to collectively visualize successful project outcomes and also feel how it would feel once the desired outcomes where achieved - happy, grateful, appreciative, proud.
4. Include Visualisation as Part of your Routine:
Get into the habit of visualising the vision you have for your life as well as how you want things in your day to day to go. In the morning, spend five minutes visualising yourself having a great day at work, speaking confidently and having a positive impact, feeling calm and confident. This helps you take control of your days and allows you to show up more and more as the person you intend to be.
Conclusion: A Visionary Approach to Success at Work
More and more driven employees are recognising the power of visualisation as a tool for personal and professional transformation. Drawing inspiration from the stories of iconic figures who have used visualization, we invite you to embark on a journey where you routinely support your mind to become a sculptor of success, well-being, and achievement.
Visualization is not merely a mental exercise; it's a dynamic force that can shape the trajectory of our careers, foster a positive workplace culture, and elevate our well-being. Through the lens of visualization, let us embrace a visionary approach to workplace wellness—a journey where the power of the mind becomes a catalyst for flourishing in every aspect of our professional lives.
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